Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

marvelous_seven said:
You should look Neil Zaza's collection of custom shop Carvin. Probably inspire you to make decision,as they look sharp.
Or you could go flying v if you still wanna have that Gibson logo on your headstock. :D
Click to expand...

I don't think Neil Zaza has a signature Carvin. He just plays a green ct624. Granted they started making them 24 frets because of guys like him.

Carvins are awesome guitars and will absolutely trounce a PRS any day of the week imo.

However, you'll always find yourself wanting a Les Paul. A lp is like a home course. You go out and experiment with some cool **** but always come back to it. Believe me, I've made a mistake of selling mine many times.

The reason your classic probably sounds ****ty is because of those dumb ceramic pickups Gibson keeps throwing in them. Get youself a nice set of PAF's and you'll find out what you've been missing.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

I have a couple of Classic Plus Les Pauls from the 1996 and 1997 in my collection of eleven Pauls. If there is anything I have learned about Les Pauls is that each one is different, each one has it's own sweet pot for it's set-up. The relief may need to be set differently, the bridge height, etc. But, one thing that makes a huge difference in how a Paul plays is the bridge saddle radius. YOU MUST have the saddles filed to correctly match the radius of the fingerboard. It can make a huge difference.

And pickups...for most modern high gain amps, the Classic's Hot Ceramic set has too much output. I liked the tone of these through my Mesa amps, but they were just too much. If I was using a Non-MV Marshall or BF Fender, they would be killer. I switched mine out for a set of Antiquitys in one guitar and a set of the 50th Anniversary A2 Seths in the other and couldn't be happier. I'd recommend you upgrade the pots and caps with an RS Kit, too.

One other tone change you might try--for about $35, order one of the Gotoh lightweight aluminum tailpieces. These gave my guitars a little more "air" and "resonance", and it was a very positive change. My guitars came with the vintage ABR-1 bridge, and in my experience the ABR-1 sounds better than the "Nashville" bridge. They can be changed over, with conversion posts.

A Classic is a great platform to upgrade if you want a guitar that has the feel, vibe and cachet of a Les Paul. These few mods gave my two Classic Plus Les Pauls about 90-95% of the tone and vibe of a Historic Reissue. They are a blast to play and they sound great.

So evaluate your guitar carefully; perhaps there are some simple mods that would turn in into the great playing tone monster you want. It might be worth it to check them out, before you leap into the great unknown of buying a guitar sight unseen. That said, since you know what to expect in terms of Carvin's build quality and tone--if the Classic isn't going to work for you--sell it and get something that will do the job.

I hate making these kinds of decisions; I don't envy you at all. I've had guitars that I hung onto that weren't cutting it, while I tried EVERYTHING to make them work. I've also nearly given up on guitars and done, ONE simple little thing that made the guitar a lifelong keeper.

Good luck in your tone quest.

Bill
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

The Dali said:
Hmmm...

DSC_0359.jpg
Click to expand...

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin 'bout.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

I have to agree.

If a guitar isn't working for you, it just sits and gathers dust. What good is it to you? Might as well sell it and get something that sings in your hands.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

Carvin is like the Peavey of guitars

Peavey makes solid amps.
They sound good to great.
They are priced very reasonably for a lot of features.
It is socially unacceptable to say you love them.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

My concern over selling the LP is the regret over selling the LP. It is a beautiful guitar and it does play well (I even have the JP wiring in it) but the Carvin plays SOOO much better.

This is the LP Classic:

DSC06112.jpg



And this is the Carvin:

DSC02738.jpg
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

Aceman said:
Carvin is like the Peavey of guitars

Peavey makes solid amps.
They sound good to great.
They are priced very reasonably for a lot of features.
It is socially unacceptable to say you love them.
Click to expand...

+10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

I once had a hot chick come to my dorm room. I happened to have my 2000 Gibson Les Paul Classic sitting on its stand. I got a blowjob that night.

Later in the year, I had a 2007 PRS Singlecut sitting on the same stand when I invited another hot chick to my dorm room. I did not get a blowjob that night.
 
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Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

9unslin9er said:
Later in the year, I had a 2007 PRS Singlecut sitting on the same stand when I invited another hot chick to my dorm room. I did not get a blowjob that night.
Click to expand...

Let me guess -- you had to hook up her DVD player.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

Floyds have a very different feel to them than a hardtail.

You generally have to run a lighter gauge of strings to account for the locking nut to achieve the same string tension.

I would actually say bargain hunt for a cheap 80's guitar a la Kramer, Ibanez, Peavey and see if you like it first.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

uOpt said:
What exactly is unpleasant to play about the LP?
Click to expand...

It is not unpleasant to play. It plays great. The Carvin just plays and sounds so much better that I never reach for the Gibson.

I did own an early 2000 Jackson with a LFR. It played fine and I never had any issues with the tuning. Decent guitar, but felt like a toy.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

The Dali said:
I did own an early 2000 Jackson with a LFR. It played fine and I never had any issues with the tuning. Decent guitar, but felt like a toy.
Click to expand...

Then I suggest you sell the LP and get more important stuff like amps and recording gear. Don't fix what ain't broke, you have 2 Carvins.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

"You'll regret selling that LP."

Maybe the fact that someone peed on the inlays is what is turning him off? :D
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

ItsaBass said:
"You'll regret selling that LP."

Maybe the fact that someone peed on the inlays is what is turning him off? :D
Click to expand...

:chairfall

Yeah, if I had to point out one thing about my Classic that makes me go, "WTF," it would be the snot-colored inlays. If that's what old inlays look like, why is it that the ones on my 73 LPC and 74 LP Sig hollow thingy look like pretty, multi-colored MOP? That's pretty old, right? If I ever come into a decent amount of disposable income, those nasty ass inlays are getting replaced.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

I once heard that if you cover the guitar with a towel, and leave only the neck exposed to sunlight, it will somewhat bleach the green out of those inlays. They're the only thing that ever kept me from wanting a Classic.
 
Re: Gibson Les Paul not cutting it...

I'll try that after I get back from deployment. The new place has a great big back yard and that'd be a great thing to do during a cookout or something.
 
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